By: Ben Ogbe

The inauguration of Mr President Buhari had witnessed huge success and the 9th National Assembly, awaited with high expectations as to the leadership of the lawmaking arm of the Nigeria government. Hopes are high, expections are agitated as to the binding unity of Nigeria in the representation of regions, the tripod upon which Nigeria stands.

Endorsements are made, as the APC tend to had learnt from past mistakes of the 8th Assembly that almost ruined the efficacy of the executive arm, led by President Buhari….

It must be in the spirit of Partymanship; – permit me to say, that must had propeled Dr Orji Uzor Kalu the Senator elect Abia North to had endorsed the candidature of Distinguish Sen. Ahmed Lawan for Senate Presidency. Owing to the distribution of power, with the Nigerian President represented from the North and his Vice from the West, it was morally justified that the leadership of the Senate President be zoned to the East, to foster unity amongst people of the nation of different ethnicity, religion, languages and social cultural belief… To create balance of equality in the service of humanity…

SouthEast is one region in Nigeria that is technically sidelined from the mainstream of the Nigerian political system.
The victory of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu from the SouthEast, we must say, is a litmus test to proving if this technicality of sidelining the SouthEast is motivated by hatred from the past, political undertone or acostomed with hindrances from hatred among themselves in the SouthEast. However, the APC would be the first in focus as their wisdom and influence in the 9th Senate leaderships would be a pillar of strength, for campaigns in the 2023 general elections…

Having certified the requirements needed to become the Senate President, but was made to allow party decisions stand, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu from the SouthEast should be considered a voice from this region SouthEast and be accorded the entitlements and rights deserved.

The endorsements of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu by political groups across the board are clear indications that his kind of personality is needed at the helm of affairs of the Senate.
His love for the party and Mr President Buhari was exhibited in the just concluded 2019 general elections…

How else can one be dedicated to his political party to earn rewards??? Reward that Will not only compliment OUK’S efforts but also boast the morals of supporters from this region, the southeast.

One remarkable thing OUK did unknown to many was to build trust among the Southeast people that elections must hold as the Biafra agitators were bent on election not holding in the region. Just like was exhibited at Aba on the day of the APC National rally that a Sit – At – Home was declared… But Dr Orji Uzor Kalu’s arrival at the ENYIMBA City ignited the enthusiasm of the people. The Senator elect called series of meetings with traditional rulers in the region to foster peace, unity and gave them reasons to believe in “One Nigeria”.

In the attempt to frustrate the efforts of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu during campaigns in the just concluded elections, threats were made to his life. Assassination attempts where made even on campaign grounds that stimulated fears among supporters. If Orji Kalu hadn’t that love and believe for his party the APC and what he represents for his people back here in the SouthEast, that would had been Game Over…. He would had simply flown to the United States or probably to China, rest and do his business when his people needed him to Speak and be their Voice…

We saw how the media paraded his existence, how OUK suddenly became a man from Gambia…

But he never relented in the struggles, he grew stronger by the day to see that APC clinched victory.

Let it be known today that ” a struggle in the land of many believers is easier to conquer than that, in the land of unbelievers” ( As seen in the unbelieving nature then, in the SouthEast about the APC).
We belong to that philosophy of reality that said, “A Vote Counts”. Less to say, the 25% votes gathered for Mr President Buhari in 2019 against the 4% in 2015…

Let these efforts be rewarded with inclusiveness in the 9th Assembly to reflect the Unity of Nigeria, the Loyalty of Party Men and the resounding believe of Non Party Nigerians that printed their thumb for Mr President Buhari in his drives for an all inclusive governance in the Next Level of his administration.

It pained already, the choice of the APC on zoning the 9th Assembly Senate Presidency to the northeast. Though, the choice of the personality of Sen. Amed Lawan, not questionable in character. However, this pains could regenerate to bigger Omen if the deputy Senate President is equally deprived from the Southeast. In the wisdom of these great men and leadership of the governing APC, knowing the future must be protected, the right thing is presumed, would be done in the right way to incorporate the Southeast into an all inclusive government.

As for the rumbles of the Barrister writer, Barr. Mathew Omonade; There’s no point crying over spilled milk and Nigerians have rights to associations and to also endorse whoever be their choice…

In a short memory, may I state clearly to Barr. Omotode of Sen. Ovie Omo Agege, how the SouthEast pledged unalloyed supports to President Goodluck Jonathan of the Southsouth in a democracy they ( the SouthEast), as one of major ethnic groups had not tasted leadership power since 1999… So, needless struggling nor fighting those from the Urhobo nor any region that chose to endorse Dr Orji Uzor Kalu for whom he is.

There’s no competition if Sen. Ovie Omo Agege exercises his fundamental rights to pick form for the deputy Senate Presidency but, to us, it’s dead on arrival as the quality of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu for such position of the Deputy Senate President can not be juggled for Sen. Ovie Omo Agege. Personal interest must give way to the sustainability of the APC.

It Will no longer be for Dr Orji Uzor Kalu to campaign for the party nor defend the party APC of been northern party, nor unfriendly party to the SouthEast, like he had always defended… but for the commitments of the APC towards the SouthEast to reflect and speak for herself.

Federal character must be considered in this regards.

Bernard Ogbe
A Political Activist and Seasoned Writer.
bernardogbe@gmail.com

StayAliveNigeria…